Hand-harrow



F. J. AOHN/ HAND HARROW. APPLICATION HLED )ULY I0, 1918.

1,304,058. Patented May 20, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK (1'. JOHN, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

HAND-HARROW.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. JOHN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand- Harrows, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a gardening tool in the nature of a hand harrow which is readily adjusted in width for permitting the use of the device between the rows of vegetables which are spaced apart different distances.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hand harrow that is easy and cheap to manufacture and is serviceable in cultivating land having the rows of vegetables spaced apart varying distances, whereby the desired extent of ground between the rows is acted upon by the device during a single travel of the latter over the ground.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and then claimed.

In the drawing forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the forward portion of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device with the handle detached, and

Fig. 4 is a view of a modified form of connecting link employed with the device.

My invention consists of a harrow formed of a plurality of V-shaped frames 10 and 11, the said frames being positioned in parallel relation with the frame 10 positioned inwardly of the frame 11. Any number of similar frames may be employed operatively connected together in the manner hereinafter set forth and whereby the dimensions of the harrow may be changed at will during the manufacture thereof.

The frame 10 consists of two angle bars 12 pivotally connected together at their forward ends by means of a bolt 13, it being understood that the side flange 14 of each Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed July 10, 1918. Serial No. 244,191.

of said bars 12 is cut away adjacent its forward end providing an attaching end por Similar angle iron bars 16 form the sides of the frame 11 provided with similar inwardly curved ends 17 through which a bolt 18 is positioned for pivoting the side members 16 together. A link 19 is pivoted at one end to the bolt 13 and is provided with a longitudinal slot 20 through which the bolt 18 extends with the said link positioned upon the end portions 17. Con necting strips 21 are provided in any desired number between the adjacent side bars 12 and 16, the said strips being pivoted to each of said bars whereby the latter are constantly maintained in parallelism.

A winged nut 22 is provided upon the upper end of the bolt 18 and it will be seen,

that upon loosening the nut 22, the side bars 16 of the frame 11 may be readily shifted toward or away from the corresponding side bars 12 of the frame 10 while the bars of both frames may be separated or drawn together at will for adjusting the size of the harrow. When the harrow has been so adjusted, the nut 22 is tightened upon the bolt 18 thereby retaining the frames 10 and 11 in position for dragging the'device over the ground.

Suitable spikes 23 are dependingly provided in any desired number upon the side bars 12 and 16 of the frames for engaging the earth during the dragging operation. A handle 24 is connected to the inner frame 10 by means of resilient arms 25 pivotally attached as at 26 to. the upright flanges 27 of the frame 10. The arms 25 being slightly resilient permit the spreading and contracting of the frames and the device is readily dragged or pushed over the ground by means of the handle 24 when in use with the spikes 23 acting upon the surface of the ground. The position of the bolt 18 within the slot 20 permits the ready adjustment of the frame 11 but a different form of link 28 may be substituted for the link 19 if desired, the same having a plurality of perforations 29 through any one of which the bolt 18 may be positioned.

A serviceable harrow is .provided which can be easily manufactured from angle iron and although cheap in construction possesses great strength as well as serviceability when in use. While the form of the invention. herein set forth is believed to be the preferred one, it will be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim as new is 1. The combination with an expansible V-shaped harrow including a pair of pivotally connected side frame bars, of a handle for said harrow, including a pair of laterally yieldable resilient arms, each having one end attached to one side bar of the harrow,

and a handle member rigidly fastened to the other ends of said arms.

2. The combination with an expansible V- shaped harrow including a pair of pivot-ally connected side frame bars, of a handle for said harrow including a pair of upwardly and forwardly projecting laterally yieldable resilient arms, each having one end pivotally attached to one side bar of the harrow, and a handle member "rigidly fastened to the other ends of said arms.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK J. JOHN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for, five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0; 

